Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The tribulations of being a migrant

Migrant workers building the first stadium for Qatar's 2022 World Cup have been earning as little as 45p an hour, the Guardian revealed. The pay rate appears to be in breach of the tournament organisers' own worker welfare rules. Pay slips show they are toiling up to 30 days a month for as little as £4.90 a day

 Migrant labourers who fitted out luxury offices used by Qatar's World Cup organising committee have not been paid for up to a year and are now living in squalor.

One labourer was hired on a basic monthly salary of £136 and worked 64 hours of overtime in April. He was paid just £29 for the overtime, making the overtime rate 45p an hour. His basic salary, if he worked the maximum 48-hour week allowed, was 64p per hour. Another labourer's pay slip shows he worked every day in April, including 38 hours overtime, for a total salary of £33.50 per week, or £4.80 a day.

Low pay, late pay and even no pay are now an increasing concern.

While back in the UK the attack on migrant workers’ conditions also continues. Welfare entitlements now end after three months rather than the previous six months. And just to add some fear David Cameron  issued a direct threat to illegal immigrants that "we will find you and make sure you are sent back to the country you came from".

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